Turtles require clean water for both hydration and digestion purposes. While turtles can go several days without eating, this should never be left for too long as it could harm them and their wellbeing.
Some species of turtles hibernate or brumate during winter. These low energy states are attained by nestling into the mud bottom of their ponds and entering an energy conservation mode wherein their metabolism slows drastically.
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Freshwater turtles
Turtles are cold-blooded creatures, meaning that their energy requirements are significantly less than warm-blooded species like mammals or birds. Their slow metabolisms allow them to survive for extended periods without eating; this allows them to endure harsh environments, enter hibernation or migrate across long distances without succumbing to malnutrition.
Adult turtles in good health can go several days without food, provided that they have access to clean water at all times and enough light.
Dehydration in turtles can quickly lead to health complications. To ensure they stay hydrated and in good health, ask someone from your community or an organization like Petco or Animal Planet to regularly come by and check on your turtle and provide specific instructions as to how and when it should be fed.
Turtles in the wild feed on aquatic plants and insects for nutrition. While they can go up to months without eating, fresh water sources must still be accessible for survival purposes; fat reserves can also provide energy sources during an emergency situation.
Saltwater turtles
Turtles in good health can go up to several weeks without food due to their slow metabolisms and ability to store fat stores, however if their environment doesn’t permit aestivation or brumation (similar to hibernation in mammals), then starvation will eventually take their life within days.
An aquatic turtle with access to clean, pure filtered water and an area for dry shelling with healthy UVA/UVB radiation can survive for several months without food; only its fat stores would diminish during this period.
Young turtles need to be fed daily, while adults should receive protein sources two or three times each week. Be sure to include plenty of leafy greens and aquatic plants along with animal proteins. If you will be away for an extended period, ask a neighbor or friend to check on your turtle and provide meals if necessary, or hire a turtle sitter so your pet will always receive adequate care.
Land turtles
Even though turtles can survive without food for extended periods (as is evidenced during hibernation-like brumation stages), pet owners should not encourage this form of fasting for their turtle. Without enough food intake, dehydration and sickness may occur – which would not be healthy.
Land turtles should ideally receive two to three sources of protein and vegetables daily in their diet, whether this be from commercial turtle pellets, fresh berries, leafy greens like lettuce and dandelion greens or fruits such as bananas and apples as well as flowers such as carnations, roses or hibiscus – making sure these items have been thoroughly washed before offering as food! Homegrown or rescued plants tend to provide superior care.
Baby turtles
Baby turtles require fresh, clean water for swimming, lounging and drinking purposes. At their current growth stage they need lots of proteins and other foods in their diet – however without access to water they will die within days.
Baby and juvenile turtles should be fed a combination of commercial turtle pellets and leafy greens (romaine lettuce, turnip greens and kale) two to three times per week. Establish a regular feeding schedule so your turtle becomes familiar with this routine; doing this will also allow you to detect changes in their eating habits as they get bigger.
Adult turtles may survive for weeks to several months without food depending on the species and season, by hibernating or brumating during prolonged cold temperatures – allowing them to spend minimal energy while even absorbing some water during this process.
